Keres people

Last updated September 15, 2025

The Keres people are one of the Pueblo peoples.^[1] They speak English, Keresan languages, and in one pueblo Keresan Sign Language.

The seven Keres pueblos are:

Cochiti Pueblo or Kotyit ("Stone Kiva"); Cochiti Pueblo people: Kotyitiemeh ("People of the North Mountains, i.e. Cochiti people")
San Felipe Pueblo or Katishtya (People down by the river ”The place where the White Shells are”)
Kewa Pueblo (previously Santo Domingo) or Díiwʾi; Kewa Pueblo people: Dîiwʾamʾé
Zia Pueblo or Tsi'ya (Tsia) ("Sun Symbol"); Zia Pueblo people: Tsʾíiyʾamʾé
Santa Ana Pueblo or Tamaiya (Dámáyá); Santa Ana Pueblo people: Dámáyámʾé (sing.) or Dámáyàamʾèetrạ (pl.)
Acoma Pueblo or Aak'u (Áakʾuʾé or Haak'u) ("Place That Always Was", better known as "Sky City"); Acoma Pueblo people: Áakʾùumʾé (″Acoma People")
Laguna Pueblo or Kawaika (Kawaik) ("Lake"); Laguna Pueblo people: Kʾáwáigamʾé ("People at/from the Small Lake")^[2]

The western pueblos, Acoma and Laguna, are the largest by area.

Ethnobotany

Abronia fragrans – The Keres people mix ground roots of the plant with corn flour, and eat to gain weight.^[3] They also use this mixture to keep from becoming greedy,^[3] and they make ceremonial necklaces from the plant.^[3]
Acer negundo – Twigs are made into prayer sticks.^[3]
Commelina dianthifolia – Infusion of plant used as a strengthener for weakened tuberculosis patients.^[4]
Geranium caespitosum – Roots crushed into a paste to treat sores, and whole plant as turkey food.^[5]

References

↑ American Indians of the Southwest By Bertha P. Dutton, p.29
↑ "Keres Online Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
1 2 3 4 Swank, George R. 1932 The Ethnobotany of the Acoma and Laguna Indians. University of New Mexico, M.A. Thesis (p. 24)
↑ Swank, George R. 1932 The Ethnobotany of the Acoma and Laguna Indians. University of New Mexico, M.A. Thesis (p. 38)
↑ Swank, George R. 1932 The Ethnobotany of the Acoma and Laguna Indians. University of New Mexico, M.A. Thesis (p. 45)

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[1] American Indians of the Southwest By Bertha P. Dutton, p.29

[2] "Keres Online Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2019-02-04.

[Swank,_George_R_p._24-3] 1 2 3 4 Swank, George R. 1932 The Ethnobotany of the Acoma and Laguna Indians. University of New Mexico, M.A. Thesis (p. 24)

[4] Swank, George R. 1932 The Ethnobotany of the Acoma and Laguna Indians. University of New Mexico, M.A. Thesis (p. 38)

[5] Swank, George R. 1932 The Ethnobotany of the Acoma and Laguna Indians. University of New Mexico, M.A. Thesis (p. 45)

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